Tag: SFF Seven

Our topic at the SFF Seven this week involves our writing schedules – what’s our most productive time of day, when do we actually write, how much time each day, week, month, etc.

I chose this photo I took of the moon at sunrise, because seeing amazing sights like this has become one of the great benefits of being an early riser. Who knew that catching the moon at dawn could be so very beautiful? I certainly didn’t, because I was never naturally an early bird. Come on over to learn more!

For a lot of us – especially Romance writers – the stress of the last few weeks has been at best distracting and at worst devastating. That kind of emotional stress, on top of the holiday season, which can be emotionally draining for many people, can leave us with empty wells. So what do you do when you need to be creative, but the well is dry?

I’m getting back into the groove following a lovely Christmas holiday in Tucson with my family. I didn’t take my laptop, and even read a paper book, staying pretty much offline except for the occasional Instagram post.

It was relaxing and restorative.

When I returned online Friday morning, 12/26, I fell face-first into the the RWA crisis. Since our topic at the SFF Seven this week is whatever is on our minds… well, I don’t have much on my mind besides this. Come on over to find out why I’m sticking.

I posted this pic to Instagram Stories asking people to vote on whether this is a helpful cat or not. Something like 82% voted “yes.” (I forgot to look at the final score before the story expired.) This only proves that my tribe of followers are TOTAL CAT PUSHOVERS.

And yes, that’s THE FATE OF THE TALA on the monitor. I was amused by how many people messaged asking if that’s what they spied. Those who listen to my podcast know that I’m struggling with this book, but I’m also at 88K now – which I originally thought would be my total! – and I’m getting there…

NOT helped by cats who insert themselves between my hand and the mouse.

Exciting change in my life: my mom bought me a new bedspread, etc., and I’ve totally changed up the color scheme! I really love it. 🙂 Also, Isabel is pleased by how well it matches her blue-smoke fur.

I’ve been absent from the blog lately, I know – except for cross-posts with the SFF Seven blog – because I did thirty days of podcasting in November. (Well, I missed November 30 because of travel, but I hit October 31, so I *did* do thirty consecutive days!)

I’m also funneling all my word energy into writing THE FATE OF THE TALA. I tell you people: I thought this book has been hard to write. But I just got on the phone with my lovely bestie Grace Draven to talk through some plot points. She ended up making a diagram as we talked and more than once said “You’re trying to do WHAT?” and “Wait, that TOO?!?” I had to point out several times that her incredulity wasn’t helping. (She just laughed, the way she does, that high-pitched giggle that sounds just like Dolly Parton’s.) At least I ended up feeling better about the fact that this effort really IS difficult.

And she gave me ideas for how to proceed. We ended up with the writer’s version of AA, where I’m just taking it one scene at a time. So that’s what I’m doing. Getting through this scene. Then I’ll think about getting through the next scene.

This week at the SFF Seven we ask “Have you ever invented a holiday for your books – or if not, what holiday would you give your characters?” It happens I have invented a holiday – a midwinter one, even- and I wrote a novella around it. Come on over for more – and to read a bit!

I love these #shelfie pics – ones readers send me of my book spotted in the wild. This one is from a Kroger grocery store in Anchorage, Alaska. Pretty awesome company it’s keeping, huh?

Our topic at the SFF Seven this week is Mentoring: my mentors, ways I’ve mentored others, how to do it right, how to do it wrong, and whether it’s possible to lone-wolf this writing journey. Come on over for my answers!